Josh Norris

NFL Draft Preview

Draft 2012: The Wide Receivers

Despite being the deepest position in the 2012 draft, the wide receiver class lacks elite prospects at the top. We have been spoiled with truly outstanding receiver talents in the last few years, and despite public perception claiming otherwise, I expect the prospects below to be selected later than expected. With that said, there is a wide variety of skill sets that will fit terrifically into certain schemes and roles. There are a number of quick-twitch athletes that operate best in the slot.

Because of the lack of elite, top-end talent, I expect many wide receiver surprises throughout next week's selections, except for one: the draft's second day will be loaded with wideout selections.

Positives: Gifted with an outstanding get-off, quickness, and straight-line speed that is maintained throughout routes, Wright is very difficult to contain in man coverage. Many receivers with his kind of speed do not play at top gear consistently. Wright does. The way he seamlessly cuts off his inside or outside foot in one step forces corners to play catch up. No player in this class creates separation as regularly from multiple receiver positions at every level of the field. Wright makes acrobatic catches look easy, adjusting to off-target throws or laying out in the end zone. Wright's fluid patterns in an experienced, diverse route tree will pay dividends early in his career. Pinpoint, accelerated footwork with little wasted movement means Wright's game will translate to the next level with similar separation skills. For a smaller frame, Wright handled occasional press coverage very well and creates slivers of separation at the catch point against physical defensive backs. Even Wright's run-after-catch ability is impressive, repeatedly breaking ankle tackles while tight-roping the sideline. Wright naturally works back toward the quarterback in trash with reliable hands in tight spaces.

Negatives: Wright measures in under six-feet tall. He consistently faced standard Big 12 off coverage that allowed plenty of cushion, giving Wright room to reach full speed quickly after the snap. Some of Wright's shorter routes are rounded at their peak versus cushion. Wright could improve his high pointing of underthrows in traffic, a weakness that prevents a reasonable comparison to Steve Smith. The Baylor product ran poorly on his electronic-timed forties at the Combine, which were clocked a full tenth of a second slower than the team-used stopwatch times. Finally, it was revealed that Wright measured in with 16 percent body fat while completing only four bench-press reps at his Pro Day.

Outlook: Wright usually lands quite a bit lower in pre-draft receiver ratings. His size limitations don't prevent me from naming him this year's top wideout, though. In previous years, how many larger targets drafted before "complementary" receivers turned out to produce far less than their smaller, devalued, counterparts? Also, news that Wright is receiving third-round grades from some teams is a non-story. Fans would be shocked by the discrepancy of team-by-team player grades due to scheme and value placed on specific skills. Outside of a handful of this year's most elite prospects, I would surmise that most clubs have at least a two-round variance if taking the highest and lowest grades assigned. But the tape doesn't lie on Wright. He is the top playmaker in this draft with an ability to win from multiple receiver positions at every level.

Positives: Floyd is a nimble route runner for his size. He beats press coverage with quick footwork at the line and active hands to disengage. Floyd sells his routes, routinely forcing defenders to guard the vertical pattern, which Floyd then breaks off in two steps back toward his quarterback. Possibly this draft's most natural hands catcher, Floyd is reliable on simple connections, using his natural ability to come down with contested catches in traffic and along the sideline. Floyd is a real leaper. If his catch is made in stride, he offers a run-after-catch threat with underrated straight-line speed. On multiple occasions per game, Floyd utilizes his full frame to make body catches in traffic while shielding defenders or high-pointing back-shoulder throws. Though not a major factor in his evaluation, Floyd is the best run blocker in this receiver group, showing more killer instinct than many offensive linemen. Floyd is also not locked into one side of the field pre-snap, lining up in the slot or out wide to create mismatches.

Negatives: Floyd wastes some movements in his routes, taking extra steps on cuts. This comes into play once his momentum is stopped after the catch, unable to sharply turn upfield with explosion while hesitating to make an initial move. Floyd is fluid, but lacks an overall burst to his game, taking time to reach a second gear after his first couple of steps. There are some concerning off-field issues with Floyd. He was arrested for DUI early in his college career, and missed most of his final game and the Senior Bowl due to a rib injury.

Outlook: Floyd has gained postseason momentum with solid workouts and buzz from NFL circles. The way he consistently adjusted to poor throws at Notre Dame with glue-like hands in traffic is a coveted skill. Floyd takes extra steps when breaking off routes, but creates necessary space when the catch point is contested. If he lowers his center of gravity on breaks to decrease the amount of wasted movement, Floyd will be a mismatch at all areas of the field.

Positives: Blackmon's production in Oklahoma State's quick-hitting, fast-paced offense is staggering. Most of it came after the catch, where he is very strong while breaking arm tackles and using adequate straight-line speed. This all begins with Blackmon's willingness to use his body as a shield on inside routes, physically outmatching defenders at the catch point. He is comfortable along the sideline, working toward the quarterback on back-shoulder throws or toe-tapping the sideline on crossers. With extremely strong hands, Blackmon has a wide catch radius with plenty of acrobatic catches on his highlight reel. He eats up zones, patiently hesitating over the middle to reliably collect difficult receptions. Few receivers run intermediate patterns better than Blackmon.

Negatives: Blackmon consistently dominated off coverage against less physical Big 12 defensive backs. The vast majority of his receptions came within seven yards of the line, and turned into long gains after breaking the first tackle. This can be viewed two ways; the offense just took what the defense gave them, or Blackmon's coaches understood he lacked field-stretching vertical tools. To be fair, it is a mix of both. Blackmon's downfield skills are not elite, failing to high point the ball with arms extended and rarely creating deep separation. Blackmon has some straight-line speed, but lacks crispness in his cuts or a burst to run by DBs beyond intermediate routes. Blackmon rarely faced press coverage in college, but when you look closely at his matchup versus short-armed Iowa State CB Leonard Johnson, Blackmon was absent from many plays due to Johnson's physicality at the line of scrimmage. Drops are bound to accumulate considering Blackmon's high volume of targets, but he was prone to knucklehead plays, mishandling routine catches or fumbling after carrying the ball in the wrong arm.

Outlook: Common perception would lead you to believe otherwise, but Blackmon is hardly a given as this class' top receiving talent. He surely is not an elite prospect. Blackmon will be an effective short-to-intermediate weapon, but I find it difficult to believe he has downfield route-running skills. It takes more than straight-line speed to be a vertical threat. Despite these negatives, I certainly do like Blackmon as a consistent target, especially when needing to convert on third downs. However, I doubt Blackmon will post top-15 receiver numbers in the pros.

Despite being the deepest position in the 2012 draft, the wide receiver class lacks elite prospects at the top. We have been spoiled with truly outstanding receiver talents in the last few years, and despite public perception claiming otherwise, I expect the prospects below to be selected later than expected. With that said, there is a wide variety of skill sets that will fit terrifically into certain schemes and roles. There are a number of quick-twitch athletes that operate best in the slot.

Because of the lack of elite, top-end talent, I expect many wide receiver surprises throughout next week's selections, except for one: the draft's second day will be loaded with wideout selections.

Positives: Gifted with an outstanding get-off, quickness, and straight-line speed that is maintained throughout routes, Wright is very difficult to contain in man coverage. Many receivers with his kind of speed do not play at top gear consistently. Wright does. The way he seamlessly cuts off his inside or outside foot in one step forces corners to play catch up. No player in this class creates separation as regularly from multiple receiver positions at every level of the field. Wright makes acrobatic catches look easy, adjusting to off-target throws or laying out in the end zone. Wright's fluid patterns in an experienced, diverse route tree will pay dividends early in his career. Pinpoint, accelerated footwork with little wasted movement means Wright's game will translate to the next level with similar separation skills. For a smaller frame, Wright handled occasional press coverage very well and creates slivers of separation at the catch point against physical defensive backs. Even Wright's run-after-catch ability is impressive, repeatedly breaking ankle tackles while tight-roping the sideline. Wright naturally works back toward the quarterback in trash with reliable hands in tight spaces.

Negatives: Wright measures in under six-feet tall. He consistently faced standard Big 12 off coverage that allowed plenty of cushion, giving Wright room to reach full speed quickly after the snap. Some of Wright's shorter routes are rounded at their peak versus cushion. Wright could improve his high pointing of underthrows in traffic, a weakness that prevents a reasonable comparison to Steve Smith. The Baylor product ran poorly on his electronic-timed forties at the Combine, which were clocked a full tenth of a second slower than the team-used stopwatch times. Finally, it was revealed that Wright measured in with 16 percent body fat while completing only four bench-press reps at his Pro Day.

Outlook: Wright usually lands quite a bit lower in pre-draft receiver ratings. His size limitations don't prevent me from naming him this year's top wideout, though. In previous years, how many larger targets drafted before "complementary" receivers turned out to produce far less than their smaller, devalued, counterparts? Also, news that Wright is receiving third-round grades from some teams is a non-story. Fans would be shocked by the discrepancy of team-by-team player grades due to scheme and value placed on specific skills. Outside of a handful of this year's most elite prospects, I would surmise that most clubs have at least a two-round variance if taking the highest and lowest grades assigned. But the tape doesn't lie on Wright. He is the top playmaker in this draft with an ability to win from multiple receiver positions at every level.

Positives: Floyd is a nimble route runner for his size. He beats press coverage with quick footwork at the line and active hands to disengage. Floyd sells his routes, routinely forcing defenders to guard the vertical pattern, which Floyd then breaks off in two steps back toward his quarterback. Possibly this draft's most natural hands catcher, Floyd is reliable on simple connections, using his natural ability to come down with contested catches in traffic and along the sideline. Floyd is a real leaper. If his catch is made in stride, he offers a run-after-catch threat with underrated straight-line speed. On multiple occasions per game, Floyd utilizes his full frame to make body catches in traffic while shielding defenders or high-pointing back-shoulder throws. Though not a major factor in his evaluation, Floyd is the best run blocker in this receiver group, showing more killer instinct than many offensive linemen. Floyd is also not locked into one side of the field pre-snap, lining up in the slot or out wide to create mismatches.

Negatives: Floyd wastes some movements in his routes, taking extra steps on cuts. This comes into play once his momentum is stopped after the catch, unable to sharply turn upfield with explosion while hesitating to make an initial move. Floyd is fluid, but lacks an overall burst to his game, taking time to reach a second gear after his first couple of steps. There are some concerning off-field issues with Floyd. He was arrested for DUI early in his college career, and missed most of his final game and the Senior Bowl due to a rib injury.

Outlook: Floyd has gained postseason momentum with solid workouts and buzz from NFL circles. The way he consistently adjusted to poor throws at Notre Dame with glue-like hands in traffic is a coveted skill. Floyd takes extra steps when breaking off routes, but creates necessary space when the catch point is contested. If he lowers his center of gravity on breaks to decrease the amount of wasted movement, Floyd will be a mismatch at all areas of the field.

Positives: Blackmon's production in Oklahoma State's quick-hitting, fast-paced offense is staggering. Most of it came after the catch, where he is very strong while breaking arm tackles and using adequate straight-line speed. This all begins with Blackmon's willingness to use his body as a shield on inside routes, physically outmatching defenders at the catch point. He is comfortable along the sideline, working toward the quarterback on back-shoulder throws or toe-tapping the sideline on crossers. With extremely strong hands, Blackmon has a wide catch radius with plenty of acrobatic catches on his highlight reel. He eats up zones, patiently hesitating over the middle to reliably collect difficult receptions. Few receivers run intermediate patterns better than Blackmon.

Negatives: Blackmon consistently dominated off coverage against less physical Big 12 defensive backs. The vast majority of his receptions came within seven yards of the line, and turned into long gains after breaking the first tackle. This can be viewed two ways; the offense just took what the defense gave them, or Blackmon's coaches understood he lacked field-stretching vertical tools. To be fair, it is a mix of both. Blackmon's downfield skills are not elite, failing to high point the ball with arms extended and rarely creating deep separation. Blackmon has some straight-line speed, but lacks crispness in his cuts or a burst to run by DBs beyond intermediate routes. Blackmon rarely faced press coverage in college, but when you look closely at his matchup versus short-armed Iowa State CB Leonard Johnson, Blackmon was absent from many plays due to Johnson's physicality at the line of scrimmage. Drops are bound to accumulate considering Blackmon's high volume of targets, but he was prone to knucklehead plays, mishandling routine catches or fumbling after carrying the ball in the wrong arm.

Outlook: Common perception would lead you to believe otherwise, but Blackmon is hardly a given as this class' top receiving talent. He surely is not an elite prospect. Blackmon will be an effective short-to-intermediate weapon, but I find it difficult to believe he has downfield route-running skills. It takes more than straight-line speed to be a vertical threat. Despite these negatives, I certainly do like Blackmon as a consistent target, especially when needing to convert on third downs. However, I doubt Blackmon will post top-15 receiver numbers in the pros.

Positives: For a receiver who experienced limited pass targets in a run-heavy college offense with consistently awful quarterback play, Randle's game is refreshingly refined. He stems routes to keep defensive backs off balance and slightly pushes off when breaking back to the ball. Sticking with vertical routes, Randle is comfortable hauling in bucket catches in full stride down the sideline. After the catch he flashes a running back's mentality, carrying the football high and tight while stutter stepping with open-field vision to evade tackles. Coming from the SEC, Randle is used to handling press coverage and beats it with an arm-over swim or gaining hand control with a subtle dip to release. The majority of Randle's targets came vertically against man coverage or inside the numbers versus zone. Randle's routes are strong, especially over the middle where he sits between linebackers and safeties, securing catches amid immediate contact.

Negatives: Randle needs to work back toward the quarterback when the ball is in the air, meeting it a few yards closer rather than waiting. For a high-volume vertical route runner, Randle must high point the ball better by sticking his foot in the ground and using length to make the contested catch. Randle is inconsistent when forced to hands-catch downfield routes in full stride, preferring the bucket method. Randle looks tentative on some routes, especially compared to his straight-line speed. It is difficult to tell whether this slower pace is for timing purposes or if Randle has yet to maximize his explosiveness in all parts of his game.

Outlook: The way that Randle uses his body against physical corners to create separation by leaning in, then quickly breaking off his route shows on-field maturity. There are flashes of veteran qualities in his game. In an offense where Randle will not have to deal with erratic ball placement or constant underthrows, he will be a reliable intermediate and downfield playmaker with toughness after the catch.

Positives: Jones possesses the best body control in this receiver class. His game is outstanding in terms of exaggerated in-route movements and ability to adjust to balls in the air. Combining a strong get-off with plus burst, Jones beats press-man coverage with very good strength for his size. He offers little wasted movement beyond quick-twitch actions that throw off trailing defensive backs. These precise cuts coupled with Jones' reliable hands from all angles make it difficult to contain the Cal product. Another willing blocker, Jones is very aware of the defense around him and never loses concentration on the field.

Negatives: Jones was the third wheel in Cal's offense as a senior, operating as the second read behind top recruit Keenan Allen, whose half-brother started at quarterback. Despite excellent route running, Jones is not a true vertical, homerun threat in terms of straight-line separation speed. He rarely gains yards after catch, often getting tackled as soon as the reception is made. This may be partially due to the erratic accuracy of his college quarterback, but Jones lacks natural ball-carrier skills. At times it is tough to tell if his movements are explosive or just highly exaggerated, but either way he separates with them.

Outlook: A Senior Bowl standout, Jones seems destined for a better pro than college career. However, because so many of his actions are already so refined, I wonder about Jones' long-term ceiling. It can certainly be argued that Jones has maximized his physical talent. But Jones has a lot left to give when associated with an accurate passer with good timing that trusts his receivers to make plays on the football. There aren't many better than Jones in that category.

Positives/Negatives: A breakaway playmaker as a receiver and on special teams, Adams is comfortable inside the numbers. A fiery competitor who responds to big hits, Adams immediately turns upfield after the catch on crossing routes and is a burner. His breaks are incredibly fluid, disguising routes until he cuts in one step with plenty of burst. Though he projects to the slot in the NFL, Adams is experienced both inside and out. He will need to lower his stance off the line to limit the target-contact area for pressing cornerbacks. Adams tends to struggle when adjusting to throws behind him on crossers and occasionally does not run at top speed against zone coverage, throttling down to stay in soft areas. Adams' hands are not extraordinarily reliable, occasionally dropping catches or muffing punts that hit him in both hands. But don't let Adams' size fool you; he is unafraid to extend himself over the middle, especially on deep-in routes.

Outlook: Deceptively strong for his size, Adams may not be limited to the slot at the next level. At the very least, he will be a dynamic special teams returner. Adams' quick bursts to escape contact are an asset for quick-hitting plays, while his fearless attitude prevents Adams' route tree from being limited.

Positives/Negatives: A long strider that excels at securing contested catches at their highest point, Quick is the next small-school product with big expectations. An ex-basketball recruit, many of those athletic traits translate to the football field. Quick needs to be more forceful at the top of his routes, when he should drive on defensive backs rather than letting up on the cutback. Quick gets low in his breaks for a big man, but there is always room for improvement in that area. Quick uses his body well for positioning, flashing outstanding high-point skills with tremendous length. Once he gets moving downfield, Quick is tough to stop with underrated straight-line speed, although these movements are not agile and he looks uncomfortable carrying the ball at times. Too often Quick body catches and he does not sustain blocks on the edge, but there is plenty to build from. His route tree and comfort will grow with experience and coaching.

Outlook: Like Colston, Quick can be an immediate slot mismatch, high pointing catches in traffic down the seam or on curls. Quick needs seasoning, and he left a sour taste during an underwhelming Senior Bowl performance, but there is a lot to like. As long as Quick does not get a deer-in-the-headlights mentality once reaching an NFL locker room, his growth will be fun to observe.

Positives/Negatives: Givens' production is even more amazing after watching him repeatedly underthrown by his weak-armed college quarterback. Possessing legit vertical speed, Givens sustains separation with fluid routes at multiple levels. His college route tree was limited, but he looks comfortable in the slot or split out wide. Givens lacks an elite burst from a slowed pace and looks slower with the ball in his hands despite good one-on-one open-field wiggle. Givens shines sifting through traffic on crossing routes and using an inside arm bar versus press coverage at the line. He could clean up bobbles when body catching, but Givens seems to break his routes off at the precise time when the defensive back is off balance. This timing is tough to teach, and Givens always keeps his isolation matchup on their toes. Even when the cornerback stays with him, Givens is one of the best in this class at dealing with contact during routes.

Outlook: Givens has been overlooked throughout the draft process after leaving Wake Forest early. He needs to clean up his cuts and reduce bobbles, but Givens can help immediately as a slot weapon that specializes in vertical routes.

Positives/Negatives: It is nearly impossible to evaluate Hill without NFL resources. Many of his catches came from blown coverages, where the Yellow Jackets' rare passing attack immediately opened up the field for Hill. Otherwise, Hill only ran three routes; fade, bubble screen, and a five-yard out (which was sloppy). The results were mixed, as Hill produced highlight-reel grabs while often dropping simple conversions. Hill possesses unbelievable straight-line speed for his size, but his inability to lower his center of gravity on cuts forces Hill to lose quite a bit of momentum and, in turn, separation. Teams have the luxury of putting Hill through workouts, including full route trees, so their evaluations will be a lot more thorough than mine. Because I stick to on-field evaluations, I am forced to give a safe grade to Hill despite the tremendous upside. I can say that unless he cleans up his cuts and routes, Hill will be limited to a vertical target.

Outlook: There really is no comparable NFL player for Hill. The play he put on tape is incredibly raw, but obviously the extreme upside is enticing. He could be a great bargain for a team with enough time to develop him.

Positives/Negatives: Arkansas' all-time leader in receptions, Wright made his mark in the slot and will ride that position into the NFL. His quickness is easily among the best in this class, eating up cushion in just a few steps with excellent wiggle in routes and cuts. Wright could minimize his footwork on multiple-breaking routes, but it is very difficult to keep up with him in space. Despite rarely leaving his feet on catches, Wright exhibits plus concentration when catching tipped passes during contact. However, other than speed, Wright is limited after the catch. He is a very limited blocker who whiffs on crack backs.

Outlook: He won't dominate after the catch, but Wright beats press coverage despite a thin frame while jerking defensive backs in multiple directions on inside routes. He will make an early impact on returns and quick slot routes.

11. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina - 4.54 forty at 6'3/216 ... 16.6 career YPR ... 49 catches last season ... Played overweight but has lost nearly 30 pounds ... Foundation of his game is making catches in traffic ... Lacks separation skills and struggles versus physical corners ... 88/1,517 season as a sophomore ... Can he keep the weight off and improve his limited separation skills? ... Went four straight games last year with fewer than 25 receiving yards.

12. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers - 4.67 at 6'2/211 ... 10.8 career YPR ... 115 catches last year ... 125 career rushes for 706 yards and nine TDs ... Will make a living on intermediate routes ... Very strong hands in traffic ... Lacks downfield speed and an overall burst to his game; limited to underneath routes.

13. A.J. Jenkins, Illinois - 4.39 at 6'0/190 ... 14.6 career YPR ... 90 catches last season ...Versatile; comfortable in slot or out wide ... Fluid route runner with great catch radius ...Needs to work back to QB ... Willing blocker.